Hierarchical systems and methods for performing storage operations in a computer network

ABSTRACT

A system for performing storage operations using hierarchically configured storage operation cells. The system includes a first storage manager component and a first storage operation cell. The first storage operation cell has a second storage manager component directed to performing storage operations in the first storage operation cell. Moreover, the first storage manager component is programmed to instruct the second storage manager regarding performance of storage operations in the first storage operation cell.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.12/820,533, filed Jun. 22, 2010, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,103,829, which is acontinuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/271,677, filed Nov.14, 2008, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,757,043, which is a continuation of U.S.patent application Ser. No. 10/877,831, filed Jun. 25, 2004, now U.S.Pat. No. 7,454,569, which claims benefit of priority to U.S. ProvisionalPatent Application No. 60/482,305, filed Jun. 25, 2003, each of which ishereby incorporated herein by referenced in its entirety.

COPYRIGHT NOTICE

A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains materialwhich is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has noobjection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent documentor the patent disclosures, as it appears in the Patent and TrademarkOffice patent files or records, but otherwise reserves all copyrightrights whatsoever.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention disclosed herein relates generally to performing storageoperations on electronic data in a computer network. More particularly,the present invention relates to integrating storage-related operationsfor a computer network according to a specified hierarchy of storageoperation cells.

2. Description of the Related Art

Current storage management systems employ a number of different methodsperform storage operations on electronic data. For example, data can bestored as a primary copy, as a snapshot copy, as a backup copy, ahierarchical storage management copy (“HSM”), as an archive copy, and asother types of copies.

A primary copy of data generally comprises the production copy or other“live” version of the data used by a software application and in thenative format of that application. A snapshot copy generally comprises acopy of the primary copy data at a certain point in time and is usuallystored on a magnetic media storage device or other readily accessiblestorage device.

A backup copy is a point-in-time copy of the primary copy data stored ina backup format as opposed to in native application format. For example,a backup copy may be stored in a backup format that is optimized forcompression and efficient long-term storage.

An HSM copy is a copy of the primary copy data, but generally comprisesonly a subset of the primary copy data that meets a certain criteria andis usually stored in a format other than the native application format.For example, an HSM copy might comprise only that data from the primarycopy is larger than a given size threshold or older than a given agethreshold and that is stored in a backup format. Often, HSM data isremoved from the primary copy, but a stub is stored in the primary copyto indicate where to locate the data. When a user requests access to theHSM data that has been removed or migrated, systems use the stub tolocate the data and make recovery of the data appear transparent eventhough the HSM data may be stored at a location different from theremaining primary copy data.

An archive copy is generally similar to an HSM copy, however, the datasatisfying the criteria for removal from the primary copy is generallycompletely removed and no stub is left in the primary copy to indicatethe location where the data has been moved. Archive copies of data aregenerally stored in a backup format or other non-native applicationformat.

Examples of various types of data and copies of data are furtherdescribed in the above-referenced related applications which are herebyincorporated by reference in their entirety. One example of a systemthat performs storage operations on electronic data that produce suchcopies of data is the Galaxy storage management system by CommVaultSystems of Oceanport, N.J.

The Galaxy system leverages a modular storage management architecturethat includes, among other things, storage manager components, client ordata agent components, and media agent components as further describedin U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/460,234 which is herebyincorporated herein by reference in its entirety. The Galaxy system alsocan be hierarchically configured into backup cells to store and retrievebackup copies of electronic data as further described in U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 09/354,058, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,395,282, issuedJul. 1, 2008, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

While the Galaxy system offers a number of advantages over othersystems, backup cells are still only hierarchically configured toperform backups of data and not directed to performing other types ofstorage operations. There is thus a need for systems and methods tohierarchically configure backup cells to perform other types of storageoperations including snapshot copies, HSM copies, archive copies, andother types of copies of electronic data.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention addresses, among other things, the problemsdiscussed above performing storage operations on electronic data in acomputer network.

In accordance with some aspects of the present invention, a computerizedsystem is provided for performing storage operations usinghierarchically configured storage operation cells, the systemcomprising: a first storage manager component; and a first storageoperation cell, the first storage operation cell having a second storagemanager component directed to performing storage operations in the firststorage operation cell; wherein the first storage manager component isprogrammed to instruct the second storage manager regarding performanceof storage operations in the first storage operation cell.

In some embodiments, the first storage manager component comprises amaster storage manager component. The first storage manager componentmay comprise a component of a storage operation cell other than thefirst storage operation cell or alternatively may not comprise acomponent of a storage operation cell.

In some embodiments, the first storage manager component controls thesecond storage manager component during performance of storageoperations in the first storage operation cell. The first storageoperation cell may include a media agent component and a data agentcomponent and in some embodiments, the first storage manager componentis programmed to directly control at least one of the media agent andthe data agent component during performance of storage operations in thefirst storage operation cell. The first storage manager component mayalso bypass the second storage manager component to directly control atleast one of the media agent or the data agent component duringperformance of storage operations in the first storage operation cell.

In some embodiments of the invention, the first storage managercomponent instructs the second storage manager component regarding atime to perform a storage operation or a type of storage operation toperform, such as a snapshot copy operation, an HSM copy operation, or anarchive copy operation.

In some embodiments, the first storage operation cell is organizedaccording to a functional criteria, such as a type of storage operationperformed by the first storage operation cell. In other embodiments, thefirst storage operation cell is organized according to a geographiccriteria, such as a physical location of one or more components of thefirst storage operation cell.

In some embodiments, the second storage manager component is programmedto communicate status information regarding the first storage operationcell to the first storage manager component. Exemplary statusinformation includes information regarding the availability of acomponent of the first storage operation cell, information regardingresource usage status by the first storage operation cell, such as usageof a storage device associated with the first storage operation cell,usage of a network pathway by components associated with the firststorage operation cell, information regarding the status of one or morestorage operations previously performed by the first storage operationcell, such as the status of one or more storage operations scheduled tobe performed by the first storage operation cell, and other types ofstatus information.

In some embodiments, the system comprises a second storage operationcell, the second storage operation cell having a third storage managercomponent directed to performing storage operations in the secondstorage operation cell, wherein the first storage manager component isprogrammed to instruct the third storage manager regarding performanceof storage operations in the second storage operation cell. In someembodiments, the second storage manager component is also programmed toinstruct the third storage manager regarding performance of storageoperations in the second storage operation cell. In some embodiments,the second storage manager component is programmed to communicate statusinformation regarding the first storage operation cell to the firststorage manager component and the third storage manager component isprogrammed to communicate status information regarding the secondstorage operation cell to the first storage manager component. The firststorage manager component is programmed to present a report of summaryinformation regarding the status information communicated by the firststorage operation cell and the status information communicated by thesecond storage operation cell.

In some embodiments, the second storage manager component is programmedto instruct the third storage manager regarding performance of storageoperations in the second storage operation cell if a user of the secondstorage manager satisfies an access criteria for access to the secondstorage operation cell.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention is illustrated in the figures of the accompanying drawingswhich are meant to be exemplary and not limiting, in which likereferences are intended to refer to like or corresponding parts, and inwhich:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a storage operation cell in a system toperform storage operations on electronic data in a computer networkaccording to an embodiment of the invention; and

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a hierarchically organized group of storageoperation cells in a system to perform storage operations on electronicdata in a computer network according to an embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

With reference to FIGS. 1 through 2, embodiments of the invention arepresented. FIG. 1 presents a block diagram of a storage operation cellin a system to perform storage operations on electronic data in acomputer network according to an embodiment of the invention. As shown,the storage operation cell includes a storage manager 100 and one ormore of the following: a client 85, an information store 90, a dataagent 95, a media agent 105, an index cache 110, a storage device 115, ajobs agent 120, an interface module 125, and a management agent 130. Thesystem and elements thereof are exemplary of a modular backup systemsuch as the CommVault Galaxy backup system, available from CommVaultSystems, Inc., of Oceanport, N.J., and further described in U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 09/610,738, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,035,880, issuedApr. 25, 2006, which is incorporated herein by reference in itsentirety.

A storage operation cell generally includes combinations of hardware andsoftware components directed to performing storage operations onelectronic data. Exemplary storage operation cells according toembodiments of the invention include CommCells as embodied in the QNetstorage management system and the QiNetix storage management system byCommVault Systems of Oceanport, N.J. Storage operation cells generallyinclude a storage manager 100, a data agent 95, a media agent 105, astorage device 115, and, according to some embodiments, other componentsas further described herein. According to some embodiments of theinvention, storage operations cells are related to backup cells andprovide all of the functionality of backup cells as further described inU.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/354,058, now U.S. Pat. No.7,395,282, issued Jul. 1, 2008, however, storage operation cells alsoperform additional types of storage operations and provide other typesof storage management functionality which are not generally offered bybackup cells. According to embodiments of the invention, additionalstorage operations performed by storage operation cells includecreation, storage, retrieval, and migration of primary copies, snapshotcopies, backup copies, HSM copies, archive copies, and other types ofcopies of electronic data. In some embodiments, storage operation cellsalso provide an integrated management console for users or systemprocesses to interface with to perform storage operations on electronicdata as further described herein.

A data agent 95 is generally a software module that is generallyresponsible for archiving, migrating, and recovering data of a clientcomputer 85 stored in an information store 90 or other memory location.Each client computer 85 has at least one data agent 95 and the systemcan support many client computers 85. The system provides a plurality ofdata agents 95 each of which is intended to backup, migrate, and recoverdata associated with a different application. For example, differentindividual data agents 95 may be designed to handle Microsoft Exchangedata, Lotus Notes data, Microsoft Windows 2000 file system data,Microsoft Active Directory Objects data, and other types of data knownin the art.

If a client computer 85 has two or more types of data, one data agent 95is generally required for each data type to archive, migrate, andrestore the client computer 85 data. For example, to backup, migrate,and restore all of the data on a Microsoft Exchange 2000 server, theclient computer 85 would use one Microsoft Exchange 2000 Mailbox dataagent 95 to backup the Exchange 2000 mailboxes, one Microsoft Exchange2000 Database data agent 95 to backup the Exchange 2000 databases, oneMicrosoft Exchange 2000 Public Folder data agent 95 to backup theExchange 2000 Public Folders, and one Microsoft Windows 2000 File Systemdata agent 95 to backup the client computer's 85 file system. These dataagents 95 would be treated as four separate data agents 95 by the systemeven though they reside on the same client computer 85.

The storage manager 100 is generally a software module or applicationthat coordinates and controls storage operations performed by thestorage operation cell. The storage manager 100 communicates with allelements of the storage operation cell including client computers 85,data agents 95, media agents 105, and storage devices 115, to initiateand manage system backups, migrations, and recoveries. The storagemanager 100 also communicates with other storage operation cells asfurther described herein.

The storage manager 100 includes a jobs agent 120 software module whichmonitors the status of all storage operations that have been performed,that are being performed, or that are scheduled to be performed by thestorage operation cell. The jobs agent 120 is communicatively coupledwith an interface agent 125 software module. The interface agent 125provides presentation logic, such as a graphical user interface (“GUI”),an application program interface (“API”), or other interface by whichusers and system processes can retrieve information about the status ofstorage operations and issue instructions to the storage operations cellregarding performance of those storage operations as further describedherein. For example, a user might modify the schedule of a number ofpending snapshot copies or other types of copies. As another example, auser might use the GUI to view the status of all storage operationcurrently pending in all storage operation cells or the status ofparticular components in a storage operation cell.

The storage manager 100 also includes a management agent 130 softwaremodule. The management agent 130 generally provides an interface withother management components 100 in other storage operations cellsthrough which information and instructions regarding storage operationsmay be conveyed. For example, in some embodiments as further describedherein, a management agent 130 in first storage operation cell cancommunicate with a management agent 130 in a second storage operationcell regarding the status of storage operations in the second storageoperation cell. In some embodiments, a management agent 130 in firststorage operation cell can communicate with a management agent 130 in asecond storage operation cell to control the storage manager 100 (andother components) of the second storage operation cell via themanagement agent 130 contained in the storage manager 100 for the secondstorage operation cell. In other embodiments, the management agent 130in the first storage operation cell communicates directly with andcontrols the components in the second storage management cell andbypasses the storage manager 100 in the second storage management cell.Storage operation cells can thus be organized hierarchically as furtherdescribed herein.

A media agent 105 is generally a software module that conducts data, asdirected by the storage manager 100, between the client computer 85 andone or more storage devices 115 such as a tape library, a magnetic mediastorage device, an optical media storage device, or other storagedevice. The media agent 105 is communicatively coupled with and controlsthe storage device 1115. For example, the media agent 105 might instructthe storage device 115 to use a robotic arm or other means to load oreject a media cartridge, and to archive, migrate, or restore applicationspecific data. The media agent 105 generally communicates with thestorage device 115 via a local bus such as a SCSI adaptor. In someembodiments, the storage device 115 is communicatively coupled to thedata agent 105 via a Storage Area Network (“SAN”).

Each media agent 105 maintain an index cache 110 which stores index datathe system generates during backup, migration, and restore storageoperations as further described herein. For example, storage operationsfor Microsoft Exchange data generate index data. Index data provides thesystem with an efficient mechanism for locating user files for recoveryoperations. This index data is generally stored with the data backed upto the storage device 115, and the media agent 105 that controls thestorage operation also writes an additional copy of the index data toits index cache 110. The data in the media agent 105 index cache 110 isthus readily available to the system for use in storage operations andother activities without having to be first retrieved from the storagedevice 115.

The storage manager 100 also maintains an index cache 110. Index data isalso used to indicate logical associations between components of thesystem, user preferences, management tasks, and other useful data. Forexample, the storage manager 100 might use its index cache 110 to tracklogical associations between media agents 105 and storage devices 115.

Index caches 110 typically reside on their corresponding storagecomponent's hard disk or other fixed storage device. Like any cache, theindex cache 110 has finite capacity and the amount of index data thatcan be maintained directly corresponds to the size of that portion ofthe disk that is allocated to the index cache 110. In one embodiment,the system manages the index cache 110 on a least recently used (“LRU”)basis as known in the art. When the capacity of the index cache 110 isreached, the system overwrites those files in the index cache 110 thathave been least recently accessed with the new index data. In someembodiments, before data in the index cache 110 is overwritten, the datais copied to an index cache 110 copy in a storage device 115. If arecovery operation requires data that is no longer stored in the indexcache 110, such as in the case of a cache miss, the system recovers theindex data from the index cache 110 copy stored in the storage device115.

In some embodiments, components of the system may reside and execute onthe same computer. In some embodiments, a client computer 85 componentsuch as a data agent 95, a media agent 105, or a storage manager 100coordinates and directs local archiving, migration, and retrievalapplication functions as further described in application Ser. No.09/610,738, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,035,880, issued Apr. 25, 2006. Thisclient computer 85 component can function independently or together withother similar client computer 85 components.

FIG. 2 presents a block diagram of a hierarchically organized group ofstorage operation cells in a system to perform storage operations onelectronic data in a computer network according to an embodiment of theinvention. As shown, the system includes a master storage managercomponent 135, a first storage operation cell 140, a second storageoperation cell 145, a third storage operation cell 150, a fourth storageoperation cell 155, a fifth storage operation cell 160, and an nthstorage operation cell 165.

As previously described, storage operation cells are oftencommunicatively coupled and hierarchically organized. For example, asshown in FIG. 2, a master storage manager 135 is associated with,communicates with, and directs storage operations for a first storageoperation cell 140, a second storage operation cell 145, a third storageoperation cell 150, a fourth storage operation cell 155, a fifth storageoperation cell 160, and an nth storage operation cell 165. In someembodiments, the master storage manager 135 is not part of anyparticular storage operation cell. In other embodiments (not shown), themaster storage manager 135 may itself be part of a storage operationcell.

Thus, the master storage manager 135 communicates with the manager agentof the storage manager of the first storage operation cell 140 (ordirectly with the other components of the first cell 140) regardingstorage operations performed in the first storage operation cell 140.For example, in some embodiments, the master storage manager 135instructs the first storage operation cell 140 how and when to performstorage operations including the type of operation to perform and thedata on which to perform the operation.

In other embodiments, the master storage manager 135 tracks the statusof its associated storage operation cells, such as the status of jobs,system components, system resources, and other items, by communicatingwith manager agents (or other components) in the respective storageoperation cells. In other embodiments, the master storage manager 135tracks the status of its associated storage operation cells by receivingperiodic status updates from the manager agents (or other components) inthe respective cells regarding jobs, system components, systemresources, and other items. For example, in some embodiments, the masterstorage manager 135 uses methods monitor network resources such asmapping network pathways and topologies to, among other things,physically monitor storage operations and suggest alternate routes forstoring data as further described herein.

In some embodiments, the master storage manager 135 stores statusinformation and other information regarding its associated storageoperation cells and the system in an index cache or other data structureaccessible to the master storage manager 135. In some embodiments, asfurther described herein, the presentation interface of the masterstorage manager 135 accesses this information to present users andsystem processes with information regarding the status of storageoperations, storage operation cells, system components, and otherinformation of the system.

Storage operation cells may thus be organized hierarchically. Thus,storage operation cells may inherit properties from their parents or becontrolled by other storage operation cells in the hierarchy. Thus, insome embodiments as shown in FIG. 2, the second storage operation cell145 controls or is otherwise superior to the third storage operationcell 150, the fourth storage operation cell 155, the fifth storageoperation cell 160, and the nth storage operation cell 165. Similarly,the fourth storage operation cell 155 controls the fifth storageoperation cell 160, and the nth storage operation cell 165.

Storage operation cells may also be organized hierarchically accordingto criteria such as function, geography, architectural considerations,or other factors useful in performing storage operations. For example,in one embodiment, storage operation cells are organized according totypes of storage operations: the first storage operation cell 140 isdirected to performing snapshot copies of primary copy data, and thesecond storage operation cell 145 is directed to performing backupcopies of primary copy data or other data. For example, in anotherembodiment, the first storage operation cell 140 represents a geographicsegment of an enterprise, such as a Chicago office, and a second storageoperation cell 145 represents a different geographic segment, such as aNew York office. In this example, the second storage operation cell 145,the third storage operation cell 150, the fourth storage operation cell155, the fifth storage operation cell 160, and the nth storage operationcell 165 could represent departments within the New York office.Alternatively, these storage operation cells could be further divided byfunction performing various types of copies for the New York office orload balancing storage operations for the New York office.

In some embodiments, hierarchical organization of storage operationcells facilitates, among other things, system security and otherconsiderations. For example, in some embodiments, only authorized usersare allowed to access or control certain storage operation cells. Forexample, a network administrator for an enterprise might have access toall storage operation cells including the master storage manager 135.But a network administrator for only the New York office, according to aprevious example, might only satisfy access criteria to have access tothe second storage operation cell 145, the third storage operation cell150, the fourth storage operation cell 155, the fifth storage operationcell 160, and the nth storage operation cell 165 which comprise the NewYork office storage management system.

In some embodiments, hierarchical organization of storage operationcells facilitates storage management planning and decision-making. Forexample, in some embodiments, a user of the master storage manager 135can view the status of all jobs in the associated storage operationcells of the system as well as the status of each component in everystorage operation cell of the system. The user can then plan and makedecisions based on this global data. For example, the user can viewhigh-level report of summary information regarding storage operationsfor the entire system, such as job completion status, componentavailability status, resource usage status (such as network pathways,etc.), and other information. The user can also drill down through menusor use other means to obtain more detailed information regarding aparticular storage operation cell or group of storage operation cells.

In other embodiments, the master storage manager 135 alerts the userwhen a particular resource is unavailable or congested. A storage devicemight be full or require additional media. Alternatively, a storagemanager in a particular storage operation cell may be unavailable due tohardware failure, software problems, or other reasons. In someembodiments, the master storage manager 135 (or another storage managerwithin the hierarchy of storage operation cells) utilizes the globaldata regarding its associated storage operation cells at its disposal tosuggest solutions to such problems when they occur or even before theyoccur. For example, the master storage manager 135 might alert the userthat a storage device in a particular storage operation cell was full orotherwise congested, and then suggest, based on job and data storageinformation contained in its index cache, an alternate storage device.

As another example, in some embodiments the master storage manager 135(or other network storage manager) contains programming directed toanalyzing the storage patterns and resources of its associated storageoperation cells and which suggests optimal or alternate methods ofperforming storage operations. Thus, for example, the master storagemanager 135 might analyze traffic patterns to determine that snapshotdata should be sent via a different network segment or to a differentstorage operation cell or storage device. In some embodiments, users candirect specific queries to the master storage manager 135 regardingpredicting storage operations or regarding storage operationinformation.

Systems and modules described herein may comprise software, firmware,hardware, or any combination(s) of software, firmware, or hardwaresuitable for the purposes described herein. Software and other modulesmay reside on servers, workstations, personal computers, computerizedtablets, PDAs, and other devices suitable for the purposes describedherein. Software and other modules may be accessible via local memory,via a network, via a browser or other application in an ASP context, orvia other means suitable for the purposes described herein. Datastructures described herein may comprise computer files, variables,programming arrays, programming structures, or any electronicinformation storage schemes or methods, or any combinations thereof,suitable for the purposes described herein. User interface elementsdescribed herein may comprise elements from graphical user interfaces,command line interfaces, and other interfaces suitable for the purposesdescribed herein. Screenshots presented and described herein can bedisplayed differently as known in the art to input, access, change,manipulate, modify, alter, and work with information.

While the invention has been described and illustrated in connectionwith preferred embodiments, many variations and modifications as will beevident to those skilled in this art may be made without departing fromthe spirit and scope of the invention, and the invention is thus not tobe limited to the precise details of methodology or construction setforth above as such variations and modification are intended to beincluded within the scope of the invention.

1. A system for performing storage operations using storage operationcells, the system comprising: a storage manager component executing inone or more computer processors, wherein the storage manager componentis configured to monitor the status of storage operations in at leastfirst and second storage operation cells based on status informationabout the storage operations received by the storage manager component,the status information stored in an index associated with the storagemanager, wherein the storage manager component stores in the index, atleast logical association information about logical associations betweenfirst components in the first storage operation cell and logicalassociations between second components in the second storage operationcell; wherein at least one hierarchical association between the firststorage operation cell and the second storage operation cell indicatesthat the first storage operation cell and the second storage operationcell are organized hierarchically, and wherein the storage managercomponent is configured to analyze data copy patterns of the first andsecond storage operation cells to suggest alternate methods ofperforming data copy operations based on the status information, thelogical association information, and the hierarchical associationwherein the storage manager component suggests data copy operationsintended for the first storage operation cell be performed on thehierarchically associated second storage operation cell.
 2. The systemof claim 1, wherein the first storage operation cell further comprises afirst data agent component for obtaining application-specific data froma client device to be included in one of the data copy operations by thefirst storage operation cell.
 3. The system of claim 2, wherein thestorage manager component directly controls the first data agentcomponent during performance of the one of the data copy operations. 4.The system of claim 2, wherein the storage manager component instructsanother storage manager component to control the first data agentcomponent during performance of the one of the data copy operations bythe first storage operation cell.
 5. The system of claim 1, wherein thestorage manager component comprises a component of a storage operationcell other than the first storage operation cell.
 6. The system of claim1, wherein a type of the data copy operation comprises at least one of asnapshot copy, a hierarchical storage management copy and an archivecopy.
 7. The system of claim 1, wherein the first storage operation cellcomprises a higher access criteria than the second storage operationcell.
 8. The system of claim 1, wherein the storage manager componentprovides predictions of storage operations.
 9. The system of claim 1,wherein a first authorized user is allowed to access the second storageoperation cell, but not the first storage operation cell.
 10. A methodfor performing storage operations using storage operation cells, thesystem comprising: monitoring the status of storage operations in atleast first and second storage operation cells based on statusinformation received by the storage manager component with a storagemanager component executing in one or more computer processors andstoring the status information in an index associated with the storagemanager; storing in the index, logical association informationindicative of logical associations between first components in the firststorage operation cell and logical associations between secondcomponents in the second storage operation cell; storing at least onehierarchical association between the first storage operation cell andthe second storage operation cell that indicates that the first andsecond storage operation cells are hierarchically organized; andanalyzing, with the storage manager component, data copy patterns of thefirst and second storage operation cells to suggest alternate methods ofperforming data copy operations based on the status information, thelogical association information, and the hierarchical association,wherein the storage manager component suggests data copy operationsintended for the first storage operation cell be performed on thehierarchically associated second storage operation cell.
 11. The methodof claim 10, further comprising obtaining application-specific data froma client device to be included in one of the data copy operations by thefirst storage operation cell.
 12. The method of claim 11, wherein thestorage manager component directly controls obtaining theapplication-specific data during performance of the one of the data copyoperations.
 13. The method of claim 11, wherein the storage managercomponent instructs another storage manager component to controlobtaining application-specific data during performance of the one of thedata copy operations by the first storage operation cell.
 14. The methodof claim 10, wherein the storage manager component comprises a componentof a storage operation cell other than the first storage operation cell.15. The method of claim 10, wherein a type of the data copy operationcomprises at least one of a snapshot copy, a hierarchical storagemanagement copy and an archive copy.
 16. The method of claim 10, whereinthe first storage operation cell comprises a higher access criteria thanthe second storage operation cell.
 17. The method of claim 10, whereinthe storage manager component provides predictions of storageoperations.
 18. The method of claim 10, wherein a first authorized useris allowed to access the second storage operation cell, but not thefirst storage operation cell.